A 3.8 magnitude earthquake sent weak tremors to Malibu and Los Angeles' Westside Friday.
The incident was about 4.6 miles north of Point Dume, in the mountains beyond the Malibu city limits. It is the seventh earthquake so far this year to hit the area.
According to the US Geological Survey, a “weak” earthquake – or Level 3 as defined by the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale – may have been felt in Malibu, Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Canoga Park, Winnetka and Reseda.
Vibrations of that intensity are often felt indoors, especially on upper floors, and can cause idling vehicles to shake slightly.
A weak earthquake rated at Level 2 on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale may have been felt throughout the San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica and across the Los Angeles Basin. That shaking is felt only by a few people who are resting, especially on the top floor of the building.
In Mar Vista, shaking was felt for 10 to 15 seconds on the second floor of the building, it sounded like someone kicked a desk and it shook.
Friday's epicenter was about three-fifths of a mile northeast of the largest, 4.7-magnitude quake on Sept. 12. That tremor was strong enough to send the mayor of Malibu and his wife diving under their kitchen table, and the terrified anchors were broadcasting live. KABC-TV and KTTV-TV.
Friday's epicenter was also about six miles northeast of the 4.6-magnitude earthquake that struck on Feb. 9, with the motto within the Malibu city limits. That earthquake was reportedly strong enough to knock things off the counter and crack the wall.
According to seismologist Lucy Jones, Southern California has experienced 15 independent earthquake sequences so far this year in which there has been at least one earthquake of magnitude 4 or higher. That's the highest annual number in the last 65 years, surpassing the 13 seen in 1988.
The active earthquake year, however, does not provide an indication of when the next large, damaging earthquake will strike Los Angeles County. The last such earthquake in LA County was 30 years ago, when a magnitude 6.7 earthquake centered in the San Fernando Valley caused at least 57 deaths and left more than 7,000 injured, nearly 20,000 homeless and more than 40,000 injured.
The last earthquake in Southern California occurred in 1857, when an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 ruptured about 225 kilometers along the San Andreas fault between Monterey County and San Bernardino County.
Are you ready when the Big One arrives? Get ready for the next big earthquake by signing up for ours A storybook that can't be movedwhich breaks down emergency preparedness into bite-sized steps over six weeks. Learn more about earthquake resources, what apps you need, Lucy Jones' top advice and more latimes.com/Unshaken.
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